Tamil Nadu toll booth sees protest over rate hike, traffic affected for hours

A protest was held against toll collection at a toll booth in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirapalli on Monday, causing heavy traffic jams in the area. The protesters allegedly vandalized the booth, breaking glass frames.
Members of the political outfit Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi, led by party MLA Abdul Samad, protested at the Thuvakkudi toll booth, demanding an end to the toll rate hikes.
Protesters claimed that the bi-annual toll fee hikes are distressing commuters and increasing the prices of essential goods due to rising transportation costs.

The protesters also demanded an end to toll fee hikes and the immediate closure of toll booths with expired licences.
MLA Abdul Samad stated that there are 67 toll booths in Tamil Nadu, and three more were recently opened in Villupuram.
“Nearly Rs 50 crore is collected in toll fees from these booths. Tamil Nadu is paying Rs 18,000 crore in toll fees every year,” he asserted.

The MLA further said that when his party raised this issue in the state Assembly, the concerned Minister AV Velu replied that the licenses of 30 toll booths had expired, and the Union Government had been informed, but no action had been taken yet.
He also noted that toll fees are increased by up to 7 percent in April and September each year.
According to the MLA, Rs 7,000 crore is collected as road tax annually in Tamil Nadu from the purchase of new vehicles. He questioned the need for such toll booths.

The protest caused traffic to be halted for more than an hour on the busy Trichy-Thanjavur highway.